I’m not a scientist, although I did take a college level chemistry course which morphed into a math class. I’m more of a mystic/poet when it comes to deciding what my truths are. And I am a skeptic when it comes to higher authorities defining Truth. My Myers-Briggs type is INFP*. I spent my professional career in communications and human resources with engineering companies full of ISTJs. My perspective was appreciated about 97% of the time. The other 3% caused me real trouble.
Now compare that with what some people think: 97% of the scientific community agree that what humans are doing is affecting the earth. The other 3% of scientists reject climate change. I’ve been in that three percentile, and I always thought I was right and knew better which I backed up through graduate work, reading and seminars.
Back to Climate Change
So how do I decide which experts to believe about climate change and global warming. I know I’m not going to do graduate level research to make that decision. How do I know what I know.I like the advice provided by Karen at her website ClimateSight.
Let’s face it, there’s a lot of “climate science” out there that’s absolute rubbish. Whichever side of the debate you’re on. Whether you believe global warming is a political hoax or that all skeptics are funded by Exxon. No matter what your opinions are, chances are that you’ve seen or read claims that you dismiss as outlandish.
Type “climate change” into Google. Within seconds you can find statements that the Earth is warming or that its temperature is stable (or cooling since 1998!). You can find “proof” that the warming is caused by the sun, volcanoes, flaws in the temperature data, or fossil fuel burning. You can read that the Hockey Stick graph is broadly accurate, or that it was manipulated by the IPCC to agree with a predetermined conclusion.
Okay, Karen admits she is a blogger and an aspiring climatologist and that her statements on climate change should not be taken as scientific fact. But I like the way her mind works. I found her thoughts about ‘When is Authority relevant’? very relevant for a mystic/poet/INFP like me.
For the average non-scientist, the physical truth does not matter as much as the probability of the event in question. They don’t really care about D-O events, Milankovitch cycles, or the relative strength of different greenhouse gases. The real question they are asking is, “What do we need to do about climate change?” People care about what will impact them. For scientists, that means data and conclusions, as that’s their job. For average individuals, that means risk management and mitigation, as that determines which policies they will support and what individual action they will take.
And when over 97% of the scientific community agree that humans are causing the Earth to warm, the probability of emission reduction being worthwhile seems pretty high.
It’s important that the authority used to argue the probability of a point is large and diverse, however. It’s easy to cherry-pick one of the outspoken 3% of scientists who reject climate change and say, “See, they know more than you do, so you should vote against Waxman-Marley.” Statistics such as “97% agreement” or “every professional scientific organization that has issued a statement on climate change” gives the audience a much better sense of the mainstream scientific opinion.
So check out ClimateSight for the thoughts and for the cartoons as well. One of my favorite is to the right.
Nancy
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*INFP
“Introvert NIntuitive Feeling Perceptive
The Type description reads: Idealistic, loyal to their values and to people who are important to them. Want an external life that is congruent with their values. Curious, quick to see possibilities, can be catalysts for implementing ideas. Seek to understand people and to help them fulfill their potential. Adaptable, flexible, and accepting unless a value is threatened.
Most people question the I (they think I am more of an E. And the Feeling and Thinking score almost equally. And the P, I overcompensate for the P and looked more organized and structured than I really am.
Nancy
outerbanksharvest
Michelle
